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Welcome! Welcome to the 6 May update from Christchurch Football Club, keeping you connected with everything happening in and around the club.  |
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Standards are clearly defined behaviours that drive a person, team, and club towards success and when done correctly it builds a sense of unity, and helps everybody to become mentally and physically stronger, and a whole lot more productive!As you will have seen with regards to our playing gear that all senior teams including our Un18 girls team have new jerseys, shorts, socks, and warm up tees (as a minimum) and with our Junior section (28 teams) commencing this Saturday the 9th of May a further 150 new jerseys are now ready to be proudly worn by the next generation! To provide this amount of gear plus other gear to be worn pre and post games takes a lot of planning to fund the purchases of said gear that are needed weeks in advance of the season starting however due to the wonderful and generous support of all our sponsors we are able to ensure our players, coaches and managers are well kitted out for the start of the season and beyond Your subscription allows the club to continually grow in many ways and to invest in many areas both on and off the grass and I am happy to speak with you if you want to know more about what we are doing at the club and what we want to achieve I ask that all subscriptions currently outstanding be paid - Seniors by the end of May and Juniors by the end of June - so as we can continue to invest in our members and grow our club I further ask that all Coaches and Managers drive this matter as the funds received will allow us again to reinvest back into the game and most importantly all of our players, coaches, and managers I am extremely proud of the work undertaken over the past 12 months to get the club in a far stronger position financially (we still have a long way to go!!) and I hope you can all see what has been undertaken by a number of key people to get our great club back to where it needs to be and that is to be the best club (both rugby and netball) in NZ because as a club we are driven, inspiring and grateful 😊 If you can pay your subscription now without needing an invoice please do so by crediting the following account: Christchurch Football Club Inc 06 0996 0541746 00 Reference: to be the Players Name 2026 Subscriptions Senior Div. 1-6 & Women’s $240.00 Colts and any Under 21 player $160.00 General $50.00 Social $20.00 Junior Family Member – 1 player (first child in the family) $115* includes team photo payment 2 or more players (same family) payment $230* includes team photo payment 3 or more players (same family) $300* includes team photo payment *includes a Family Membership of $60 Once your payment is received we can then cross reference to Xero and show that you have paid for the 2026 season If you need to discuss payment options etc. please email accounts@christchurchpark.co.nz and we will get in touch |
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But if our goal is to develop better players, stronger teams, and a lifelong love of the game, we need to challenge whether early division is actually serving us. The Risk of Early Labels When we place young players into A and B teams, we are doing more than just organizing a squad — we are assigning identity. The “A team” player is often seen as the better athlete, the one with potential. The “B team” player, whether intended or not, can feel like they are already behind. The problem is that development in rugby — especially in younger age groups — is not linear. Players grow at different rates physically, mentally, and emotionally. A 12-year-old who dominates today may be surpassed in two years ’time by a player who simply needed more time, confidence, and opportunity. By locking players into early categories, we risk: • Limiting opportunity for late developers • Reducing confidence and enjoyment for those outside the “top” team • Creating a fixed mindset instead of a growth mindset Skill Development is the Real Differentiator At its core, rugby is a skill-based game. Passing, catching, decision-making, spatial awareness, body position are the foundations that underpin performance at every level. The best long-term players are not always the biggest or fastest early on — they are the most skillful and adaptable. When programmes prioritise skill development: • Every player gets meaningful touches and repetitions • Players learn to make decisions, not just follow structure • Confidence grows through competence • Game understanding improves across the whole group If we focus on who can win games now, we often default to size and early physical maturity. If we focus on skills, we build players who can play the game well at 18, 21, and beyond. |
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In these environments, some players improve quickly — but many stagnate. A Better Approach: Development-Centred Environments Instead of rigid A and B teams, consider more flexible and inclusive models: • Mixed-ability teams that change throughout the season • Rolling substitutions to maximize game time • Position rotation to broaden understanding • Equal emphasis on training quality across all groups This doesn’t mean ignoring ability — it means not being defined by it too early. Coaches can still stretch top players by: • Giving them leadership roles • Increasing decision-making responsibility • Challenging them with constraints in training At the same time, developing players receive the time and support they need to improve. Long-Term Success Over Short-Term Sorting The question we need to ask is simple: Are we trying to identify the best players today — or develop the best players for tomorrow? Clubs and schools that prioritise development over early selection tend to: • Retain more players • Produce more well-rounded athletes • Build stronger senior teams over time • Create a more inclusive and positive culture Final Thought Separating players into A and B teams may make competitions tidier — but development is rarely tidy. If we truly care about the future of our players and our game, we must be brave enough to prioritize growth over grading, skills over status, and long-term development over short-term success. Because in the end, it’s not the team a player was picked in at 12 that matters — it is the player they become at 18 and beyond. |
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Digital Membership Cards Are Coming to Christchurch Football Club Soon We’re excited to share a step forward for the club: digital membership cards are about to be issued to registered members. This marks an important transformation in how we recognise and manage membership. The cards are currently in the final stages of User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to ensure a smooth rollout later this week. Who Will Receive a Digital Membership Card? In the initial release, digital membership cards will be sent to:
The cards will be issued automatically based on current registration details, so it’s important that member information is accurate and up to date. Easy to Access, Easy to Present Each digital membership card will be able to be saved directly to your Apple or Google Wallet, making it simple to access whenever needed from your phone. Importantly, the cards have been designed to meet New Zealand club licensing law requirements (not age-related), allowing members to confidently present them wherever proof of membership is required. Real-Time, Always Current Unlike physical cards, digital cards can be kept up to date automatically. Membership status, names, and other key details are drawn directly from your registration information, reducing errors and removing the need for reprints or replacements. A Big Step Forward for the Club This initiative represents an exciting digital transformation for CFC. Moving to digital membership cards:
Most importantly, it helps the club continue to evolve while maintaining compliance, security, and ease of use for our members. More information about distribution and how to access your card will be shared once testing is completed later this week. We look forward to rolling this out and welcoming members into the next chapter of CFC’s digital journey. |
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ARE YOU A CFC CENTURION? “ This is a project the Axemen have been working on for some time. We felt it was time to formally recognise and reward those former and present members who have made an enduring contribution to the Christchurch Football Club”, said Axemens Club Chairman Bob Eastgate. Since 1863, Christchurch Football Club has been built on more than results. It has been built on commitment — season after season, generation after generation. The Axemen name has always stood for resilience, loyalty, and the willingness to keep turning up when it matters most. It represents those who put the club first, who carried the jersey with pride, and who helped pass the CFC culture from one era to the next. What Is an Axemen Centurion? An Axemen Centurion is a player, coach, or manager who has reached 100 Senior Grade games of service, from Under 19’s, Women’s to Senior/Premiers, with the Christchurch Football Club. One hundred games is not a moment — it is a journey. Centurions are recognised not for individual accolades, but for service sustained over time — the very quality that has allowed the Christchurch Football Club to endure for more than 160 years. Eligibility You may be recognised as an Axemen Centurion if you have achieved 100 or more Senior Grade games with the Christchurch Football Club in one or more of the following roles:
Service may be accumulated across seasons and teams and reflects genuine contribution in the red and black colours. The Axemen Centurion Register All recognised Centurions will be recorded in the Axemen Centurion Register, plus they will receive a souvenir as a living record that honours those whose commitment has contributed to the club across generations. The Register exists to:
Eligible individuals — or those wishing to nominate a past player, coach or manager — are invited to register for inclusion in the Axemen Centurion Register. Where formal records are incomplete, the club acknowledges that our history is often carried through memory and shared experience, and these will be respected as part of the verification process. To Register or Nominate: Please register by following the link here: A Living Legacy Each registered Centurion will be recognised and inducted at special function(s) throughout the year. Becoming an Axemen Centurion is not an endpoint. It is recognition that your service forms part of the foundation on which future club members will stand. “ From Latimer Square in 1863 to the present day, the strength of Christchurch Football Club has always come from those who stayed. It is time to recognise those who have reached or surpassed the 100 game milestone. The Axemen are truly honoured to organise and operate this scheme on behalf of the Club” Bob Eastgate. Give em the Axe! |
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